Manning / Luck...what do you do?

[OregonDuck1989]

One bad year suddenly=LOSING ATMOSPHERE FOR DECADES

Peyton Manning lead this team to two super bowls and won one, considering playoff appearances they are a dynasty. That is a winning atmosphere and a winning quarterback. Two years ago they probably could have gone undefeated. One year when Peyton doesn't take a snap and suddenly they no longer have a winning atmosphere? Talking about overrating things....

[dickay]

IMO, the sitting and watching a verteran as a way to learn how to play the position has always been way over-rated. The way to learn to play the position is to get on the field and play.

i agree in general. it depends largely upon their collegiate experience and system they were running. There are some college systems that translate well to the pro game and there are some that are a different language. If the latter, and the QB isn't as adept at reading NFL style defenses and learning the playbook then by all means they need to sit and learn in practice and by watching. In Luck's instance, there is absolutely no gain in sitting him. He played in a pro style at Stanford against high level competition. Supposedly he's as good as they come at reading defenses and making adjustments at the line. He's the highest rated QB out of college since former Stanford QB John Elway (yes I feel he's higher rated than Peyton was out of Tenn). Luck would've been the #1 overall last year and stayed for another year of seasoning. The best way for him to improve is to play...not sit.

[OregonDuck1989]

Elway probably needed a year of sitting, tbh.

I don't think Luck does need a year of sitting, I think he's going to be good enough to start day one in the NFL, I'm just saying what if he fails and he could have succeeded by sitting a year. It's not the worst thing in the world if he sits a year behind Peyton Manning. It's not like you're benching him behind Donovan McNabb(Minnesota)

[ragecage]

IMO, the sitting and watching a verteran as a way to learn how to play the position has always been way over-rated. The way to learn to play the position is to get on the field and play.

Very true with Matt Ryan kicking off that trend.

[CatKnight]

Having watched the Browns for the past few years, I have to wonder what happens to the Colts if Luck busts. Yes, it's not likely, but as I recall Brady Quinn was supposed to be Cleveland's answer.

Keep Manning. For one thing, it'd be classy of Indianapolis to let him have a 'farewell' season and would please the fanboyz. For another, it gives the Colts a year to watch Luck develop and let him get used to the NFL. Give him a quarter or so a game to 'practice.' If Manning doesn't have it anymore, then give him more time. If Manning's still good, then maybe Luck will learn something.

[etothep]

Comparing Luck to Quinn

[dps]

Comparing Luck to Quinn

Sure, it seems like that now, because we know that Quinn didn't succeed as an NFL QB. But, he played in a pro-style offense in college, had success in that system, and seemed to have all the tools needed to be a successful NFL QB. No, he wasn't as good in college as Luck, but very few ever have been.

To put it another way, at the end of his college career, Quinn looked like a far, far better pro prospect than another Notre Dame QB from an earlier generation named Joe Montana.

[etothep]

Sure, it seems like that now, because we know that Quinn didn't succeed as an NFL QB. But, he played in a pro-style offense in college, had success in that system, and seemed to have all the tools needed to be a successful NFL QB. No, he wasn't as good in college as Luck, but very few ever have been.

To put it another way, at the end of his college career, Quinn looked like a far, far better pro prospect than another Notre Dame QB from an earlier generation named Joe Montana.

I could possibly be wrong here, but I don't remember anyone saying Quinn was the best, most sure-fire QB prospect since Manning or Elway. I don't think some of you guys understand the magnitude of just how much hype Luck is getting. Quinn was talked about as one of the better QB prospects in a bad QB draft class (Jamarcus Russell went #1). Luck is being talked about as a type of QB prospect who comes around once every 10-15 years

[Coach Owens]

You have a better chance to keep the winning atmosphere around Andrew Luck by not rushing him. I understand everyone thinks he's a Matt Ryan type guy and I do too. But the risk is too great if Andrew Luck is NOT Matt Ryan and fails because he was rushed.

What's the pain if you have Manning? You over pay a guy to start for a year or two while Luck learns from a hall of famer? Oh no, how horrible.

The only reason to sit a guy is because either a. he has mechanical flaws that compromises his accuracy, throwing strength, etc. (see Jake Locker and Tim Tebow) or b. he comes from a spread, pistol or other odd college offense (which doesn't even seem to make that much of a difference anymore, seeing how both Dalton and Newton came from spread offenses). Luck has fantastic mechanics and comes from a pro-style system at Stanford. Sitting him would be stupid.

[MichelleWie]

I could possibly be wrong here, but I don't remember anyone saying Quinn was the best, most sure-fire QB prospect since Manning or Elway. I don't think some of you guys understand the magnitude of just how much hype Luck is getting. Quinn was talked about as one of the better QB prospects in a bad QB draft class (Jamarcus Russell went #1). Luck is being talked about as a type of QB prospect who comes around once every 10-15 years

This is why I think it's so unlikely that Luck and Manning ever are on the team together. There is no way Andrew Luck is going to sit on the bench especially after watching all these other rookie QB's have success. Luck and his agent have some say in the matter. I could easily see him refusing to play there if he's not going to start.

[dps]

I could possibly be wrong here, but I don't remember anyone saying Quinn was the best, most sure-fire QB prospect since Manning or Elway. I don't think some of you guys understand the magnitude of just how much hype Luck is getting. Quinn was talked about as one of the better QB prospects in a bad QB draft class (Jamarcus Russell went #1). Luck is being talked about as a type of QB prospect who comes around once every 10-15 years

I'm not saying that Quinn was as good a pro prospect as Luck. I'm saying that he was a reasonalby good pro prospect, better than most QBs coming out of college, so it's not completely silly to compare him to Luck in that respect. Two players may be comparable but one still be clearly better.

[Jeffy25]

Keep both

[MichelleWie]

We'll get the first clue when we see what happens to Caldwell. If he's fired I think it's a good indication Peyton won't be back.

I think it's very obvious now Indy is moving on.

[etothep]

I think it's very obvious now Indy is moving on.

Center Jeff Saturday (who will be a free agent) is reportedly contemplating retirement as well

[haveacigar]

I'm not saying that Quinn was as good a pro prospect as Luck. I'm saying that he was a reasonalby good pro prospect, better than most QBs coming out of college, so it's not completely silly to compare him to Luck in that respect. Two players may be comparable but one still be clearly better.

But the way they are being compared is not valid. CatKnight isn't pointing out similarities in playing style or anything like that. He's saying that Luck could bust because Quinn busted. The fact that Luck is head and shoulders above Quinn as a prospect makes the comparison pretty meaningless.

Coach has it right on having him sit. The only reason you'd have him sit is because you are keeping Peyton Manning and you think Peyton is more likely to win games. The only way anyone can adapt to the NFL is by doing. Warming a bench is not its own benefit.